Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-09-16
Atashington Stanaard
THEIIoUsE0N THE NlARsH;
THE MYSTERY OF THE ALOERS.
By FLORENCE WARDEN.
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XIII
In his establishment at Mrs. Rayner's
ghost-likc entrance and appearance,
Mr.. Carruthers had not paid much at
tention to the end Of my question. and
/ determined to try to get another OPP
portunity of putting it to him. He eX-
pressed his sorrow TO Mrs. Ravper at
having caused her the trouble of re-
ceiving him when she was evidently
suffering. and said that he had ventured
to call to tell NJ IS Christie about the
great robbery which taken place in the
house she had so recently visited, Den
ham Court. She made no comment
until it was over; then she turned to
him and asked, with !. faint expression
of relief:
Then nobody was hurt?"
''Oh, no, there was no collision at
all! They vanished like spirits, leaving
no trace"
Il am very sorry they were not
caught. My husband has been in town
since Tuesday morning, and am nerv-
GUS while he is away" said she, like
one repeating lesson.
All this time Sarah stood by her,
smelling bottle in hand, as if prepared
for her mistress to faint. Yet to nv
eyes Mrs. Rayner did not look worse
than usual.
When Mr. Carruthers arose to 90 I
accompanied him to the door. but had
no chance to communicate my suspi-
cions as to the burglary. for Sarah fol-
lowed closely behind. To give vent to
my excitement l wrote to Laurence.
With Sarah around I could not be too
cautious so contented myself with an
account of Mr.. Carruther's visit and
the robbery at Denham Court, saying
in conclusion that it might have some
connection with what had seen. And
then l said great deal concerning less
important things but much pleasanter
to write about. When the postman
called WAITED until the other mail had
been given him and then ran out and
deposited my letter in the bag myself
was congratnlating myself upon hay
ing outwitted Sarah, who had not seen
the direction on my letter, when saw
hcr nIu 'lTter nm ana take a'1etter from
the bag. l ran up just in time to hear
her mutter something about misdirec-
ton. saw her place letter in her
pocket which 1 knew was mine ana
walked up boldly to her.
"What did you take my letter out Of
the bag for, SarahP" said l, half chok.
ing with anger.
''It's not your letter, miss. What
should l want with any letter of yours?'
she said, looking down at me insolent
ly. Its letter to my sister that I've
forgotten to put the number ofthe street
on"
knew quite well that this was
falsehood, but could not prove it, for
l had indeed been too far off to recog-
nize my letter when she put it into her
pocket, and my moral certainly count
ed for nothing. She knew this and
stalked off defiantly to the house with
my letter, while l crept back to the
school-room and sobbed bitterly at the
tyranny was suffering from this hate
full woman.
There was one comfort, it could not
last long Mr.. Rayner would soon
be home and would tell him about
my discoveries.
congratulated myself on having
been SO cautious in my letter to Lau.
renee that Sarah would not learn much
by reading it, and wondered when i
could make an excuse to 60 to Beacons-
burgh, to post one to him with my own
hands. 1t seemed very hard to be cut
off in this way from the relief of open
ing my heart to him; but it would be
all right on the morrow, when Mr..
Rayner came back-she would not dare
to annoy me then.
Rnt tho nnvt 70 rnu rvvaot
Disappointment, l got another letter.
saying he should not be back until
Monday afternoon. | had written tc
him on "Wednesday and he had got my
note. He salt! as mentioned that the
weather was bad and the fogs had be-
gun to be thick. it would be better for
Mrs. Rayner to leave the ground foo.
and sleep upstairs.
II expect you will have no difficulty
in persuading her to leave her own
ROOM" the letter went on, "but l am
50 anxious about her, for it seems to
me she has looked paler than ever late
~. and feel so sure she would be bet
ter on higher floor, that I beg you.
dear Miss Christie. to use all your pow
ers of persuasion to induce her to
move. Tell her that it. is only for a
time, that she shall 60 back to her own
room as soon as the weather is warmer
again; tell her wish it, tell her any
thing you like to affect her. I have
great trust in your diplomatic powers,
little madam. and anticipate the hap.
piest results from them in this instance.
] have given Sarah orders by letter to
prepare the big front spare-room."
Twas delighted with this letter; il
made me for the moment angry with
Mrs. Rayner for her persistent ignoring
Of his kind feeling toward her She
was always supposed to be attached t.
her room on the ground floor, and Mr.
Rayner wrote as if it would be difficult
to persuade her to move. But had
two powerful weapons in her husband.
loving lette. and her affection for Hal
dee. and resolved to use them we'll.
desired very much to see Mrs. Ray
ner alone, and after dinner l went GU
to my seat in my "nest'' for a LITTLE
while to plan some method for meeting
her. While l was there l saw Saral
come out and take the road for Bea
consburgh with black bag in hel
hand. l asked Jane where she ha(
gone. who replied to the station. to buy
some groceries. This was my chance
Iput on my galoches, for it was yer.
vet in the grounds, and l went pas
Mrs. Rayncr's window singing softly
to attract her attention. Ny ruse sue
ceeded. and just as pulled one of tn,
branches aside Mrs. Rayner's pale face
looking astonished and alarmed, ap
peared at the window. I smiled ant
offered her some flowers, motionin.
for her to open the sash. This sh'
reemed reluctant to do. But | stood
my ground until at last she put hest
tating hand upon the fastening. Whel
the window was just few inches up
said. opening upon point where
knew we had sympathy:
Sarah has gone to Beaconsburgh
1saw her off. l hope she will be
very long time"
Twas right. She opened the win
dow, which was a little above the leve
OF my head, more confidently; and
saw that it was barred inside.